When I lived closer to LGA and JFK (60-90 minutes respectively), I pretty much used them exclusively, and only occasionally the closer lesser service airport. It depends on where you live and your tolerance for connecting flights and schedule interruptions.
Going out of ALB in the fall I would definitely consider driving to EWR, or taking Amtrak down to NYP and then the shuttle to EWR, with UA even interlining to Amtrak on a single itinerary. The three airports that make up NYC have better weather handling in terms of keeping runways clear, and more frequent flights, so you're much less likely to end up stranded due to weather, and also more aircraft available limiting mechanical interruptions. Also, while all of the airports are ILS, NYC airports have a cleaner localizer signal path so aircraft can land in worse weather than at ALB, while ALB sees significantly worse weather than NYC.
If I'm not schedule constrained, I'll fly out of all sorts of places, but for Disney or other tight schedules I drive the distance to get to the better airports.[/QUOTE
Round-trip Amtrak from Alb-NYP starts at $90 per person round-trip. Add $26 for NYP-EWR. Fares from EWR to MCO usually aren't that much less expensive to make up that difference, especially considering the extra 4-5 hours of travel time.
Parking at EWR isn't anywhere as convenient at ALB. Even just driving to EWR is not for the faint of heart unless you are used to it.
I had no idea Syracuse's airport is that large! Interesting about the localizer signal path ... (Thank you!)